After a year away Saaed Robinson is back for the Colorado Switchbacks (photo credit: Corbin Elliott)
Portland Timbers 2 face Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC in the second weekend of the United Soccer League regular season. Colorado Springs currently sit atop the Western Conference, while Portland still look for their first points.
Having won their season opener against Los Angeles Galaxy II 2-0, Colorado Springs will be optimistic about getting a result against T2. However, international call-ups and suspensions may curb the Switchbacks attack. Wingers Shane Malcolm and Saeed Robinson will both be unavailable for Saturday’s match. Malcolm has been called up to The Guam National Team. Robinson is serving a one match ban. This is good news for T2 as the Switchbacks’ front three of Malcolm, Robinson, and forward AJ Ajeakwa menaced the Los Angeles defense with pace in their previous match.
While T2 may have come away empty handed against rivals Seattle Sounders 2, Portland played well and will hope to turn the previous week’s positive play into positive results. T2’s forward pairing of Augustine Williams and Jeremy Ebobisse found plenty of opportunity in their first match of the season, but only Williams was able to score. Both forwards should continue to look dangerous, with Ebobisse, on loan from the first team, especially eager to open his account and impress Portland Timbers’ Manager Gio Savarese.
Fullback-cum-winger Harold Hanson was the standout performer against S2 and will likely feature in this match as well. The question is whether the 18-year-old American will play in the advanced role where he’s found early success, or if he’ll be moved back to his natural right back position. With the potential availability of international signings Darixon Vuelto and Marvin Loria, both of whom are dynamic options on the wing, shifting Hanson to backline seems wisest, providing space in the line-up for either Vuelto or Loria, while still allowing Hanson to maraud up and down the wing.
T2 Head Coach Cameron Knowles will have another selection dilemma with midfielder Terrell Lowe likely unavailable due to injury. Knowles will need to find a center midfield partner for Andre Lewis. Renzo Zambrano and Eryk Williamson are the most plausible options, though neither have featured yet this season. Zambrano was a stalwart contributor in 2017 after joining T2 midseason. Williamson is a United States Youth International player and a significant offseason acquisition looking for minutes to break into the first team.
Saturday’s match will also see the return of T2 center back Josh Phillips to Colorado Springs. Phillips was a constant presence in the Switchback’s backline making 80 appearances during his three years with the team.
Stream online at Timbers2.com, 5 p.m. PST.
T2
USL
